Pages

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Celebrate Good Times, Come On! 7/12

Each Saturday Ruth Ayres invites us to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week. Looking for celebrations has certainly improved my outlook on my week. For that, I am certainly grateful to Ruth and to all of you who choose to celebrate with me.

Today I celebrate peach pie!

I live in a small town where agriculture is the one of the main industries. Because of this, homegrown produce is usually in abundance. My favorite tastes of summer include: strawberries early summer, peaches and sweet corn mid-summer and watermelons late summer! Because of our harsh winter, the peach crop has not been good this year. Last week at our local grocery store, I hesitantly purchased some peaches. I am always a little leery about buying produce that I LOVE which is not local because I am usually disappointed. Much to my surprise, the peaches were pretty tasty. So Friday I decided to make a peach pie and it was wonderful!While making this pie, so many memories came flooding back.My first remembrance of eating a fresh peach was when I was about 9 or 10. I went with my grandparents to their river cabin for the weekend. We stopped at a roadside stand and bought peaches to take with us. I remember sitting on the swing and bending over because the peach so juicy and the juice ran down my chin and hands. Hmm, hmmm! Sweet summer!When I was pregnant with my daughter, I craved peaches - I could not get enough! Lucky for me, it was this time of year so I could pretty much eat all I wanted. I would walk into the market, and they would laugh because they knew what I was coming for.Hmm, hmm! Sweet summer!My last memory involves my father-in-law. The last year of his of life, my mother-in-law was in a nursing home with Parkinson's Disease. Because they lived next door, he ate dinner with us most nights. He was always thankful for whatever I cooked, and he always ended the dinner with, "Good dinner!" Peach pie was one of his favorites, and I enjoyed making them for him because I knew he was so appreciative. I loved him and miss him dearly, and today my thoughts were about him.Hmm, hmm! Sweet summer! Now that is a "peachy" celebration!Have a wonderful week and may you have many celebrations!

Peaches are something to celebrate, especially when you have so many memories attached to them. Last year I celebrated my bounty of peaches from my tree, this year I lament the cold snapped my blossoms before they ever opened. Sigh . . . there's always hope next year.

I love all the memories that came with those two words - peach pie. I loved stopping at roadside stands and buying fruit. Our peaches came from Costco and CA, but they were splendid! Wish we could sit down together for peach pie and stories.

I loved reading this post - and all the wonderful connections you have to peach pie! It's amazing how food can anchor us to so many memories. My "summer memory food" is making jam! Thanks for sharing these special memories!